Sidney Crosby easy winner in Conn Smythe Trophy voting

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby received 11 of 15 first-place votes by select members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association to win his second straight Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins became the first repeat Cup champions in 19 years (Detroit Red Wings, 1997 and 1998) with a 2-0 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 6 of the Cup Final at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday.

Crosby, Pittsburgh's captain, was first or second on each of the 15 ballots. His 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 24 playoff games were second in the NHL to teammate Evgeni Malkin. He didn't have a point in Game 6, but his seven points (one goal, six assists) were the most in the Cup Final.

Crosby is the third player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe in consecutive seasons (Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers, 1974 and 1975; Mario Lemieux, Penguins, 1991 and 1992) and sixth to win it twice in his career.

Malkin, a center whose 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) led the NHL, finished second in the voting. He received three first-place votes and 11 second-place votes.

Pittsburgh rookie left wing Jake Guentzel received one first-place vote after leading the League with 13 goals, including four in the Final. Guentzel also received nine third-place votes.

Guentzel's 21 points (13 goals, eight assists) tied Dino Ciccarelli of the Minnesota North Stars in 1981 and Ville Leino of the Flyers in 2010 for most playoff points by a rookie.

Also receiving third-place votes were Penguins forward Phil Kessel and goaltender Matt Murray, Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne and defenseman P.K. Subban, and defenseman Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, who were eliminated by the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final.